Author: Subrata Nagchoudhury
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: June 14, 2004
URL: http://indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=48952
Introduction: No govt medical team
there; Minister adds salt to injury: Adivasis can live on snakes, rats,
toads
Following reports of starvation
deaths in Amlasole, NGOs and other welfare agencies flocked to the area
today with food packets for the residents. But the West Bengal government
continues to look the other way: no official can be seen in the village
despite Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's admission of a 'starvation-like
situation' in the area.
The only government face visible
in Amlasole today was that of CPI(M) tribal minister, Sambhu Mandi, who
slipped in almost unnoticed on a party worker's motorcycle. But he only
managed to irk residents by remarking that, "as long as the mountains have
trees and leaves, Adivasis and sabars will not die of hunger and starvation."
His suggestion for those facing
starvation: "If there is food scarcity, sabars and Adivasis will also survive
on snakes, rats, toads and what not. The entire world may die of hunger,
but not the Adivasis." Mandi represents Binpur constituency under which
Amlasole falls.
Not surprisingly, the Minister's
comments drew a sharp reaction from the people there. "If our representative
wants us to survive in this manner, there is little hope for us even after
this misfortune," said Kakila Sabar, who lost her husband and a daughter
recently.
According to villagers, the government
is yet to launch any relief measure-an indication of its reluctance to
concede that the recent deaths were due to starvation. The administration
has still not send a medical team to the area.
Meanwhile, like the CPI(M)'s Midnapore
wing, the local Binpur panchayat of the party is also unwilling to discuss
the reason behind the deaths. But some panchayat functionaries were seen
moving about the village today, distributing new clothes. "We are doing
this little charity on behalf of our panchayat," said Bhairab Mahato, a
panchayat official.
However, thanks to the NGOs and
other outfits, things are beginning to look up in Amlasole. Other than
the food packets and generous helpings of khichri, the village is in the
process of getting a new well too.
